Demand for the services of social workers is surging in China
with hospitals, trade unions, rest homes and women's associations
seeking to hire more qualified professionals.
Zhang Yiqi, a former ideological cadre in East Hospital in
Pudong New District of Shanghai, was transferred to the hospital's
newly established social work department two years ago and became
one of the country's first hospital-based professional social
workers.
Zhang and his colleagues organized a special club in the
hospital, helping hundreds of diabetes and breast cancer patients
to fight depression and face up to their illnesses.
China used to have no professional social workers to provide
services such as helping patients and drug users, and resolving
marital problems. This work was usually conducted by government
departments or organizations.
The appearance of professional social workers would ease the
burden on government departments, better serve social needs and
stabilize Chinese society, said Wu Duo, president of Shanghai
Social Workers Association and professor at the East China Normal
University.
Wu also said professional social services should have government
support.
Pudong Social Development Bureau has required institutions such
as rest homes, women's associations and trade unions to employ
professional social workers.
In February 2003, China's first non-profit professional social
service agency, Lequn Service, was established in Shanghai.
Under a contract signed between Pudong New District Government
and Lequn Service, the government will pay Lequn 100,000 yuan
(US$12,090) annually to provide psychological counseling and other
services to six primary schools.
Services provided by Lequn are available to the schools'
students, teachers and parents.
Professional social workers were sent into communities and
families that were quarantined during the severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) crisis in April, helping to ease the pressure of
the affected people in that stressful period.
Ma Yili, director of the Social Development Bureau of Pudong New
District, said professional social work agencies were developing
quickly and more social work professionals were being trained in
China.
"Fast economic development and great social changes have made it
increasingly difficult for government departments to respond to
effectively and efficiently. Professional social workers are
urgently needed to help government departments better serve the
people," said Ma.
Regulations on the certification of social workers have been
formulated in Shanghai and a set of national standards are also on
the drawing board.
Ma said the more social work agencies were needed to employ
professionals who major in social work and to meet the growing
demand for social work services.
(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2003)